Thomas Hogan more than just Lafayette Jeff's speed back

Lafayette Jeff tail back Thomas Hogan (28) turns around in the end zone after scoring a touchdown during the first quarter of an IHSAA football game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2019 at Scheumann Stadium in Lafayette. Lafayette Jeff won, 47-12.(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

LAFAYETTE — Thomas Hogan tried to tell Lafayette Jeff coaches last year he could punt.

Nobody believed him.

Teammates vouched for Hogan to no avail.

Until an injury to then punter Brian Jenkins led to an open tryout.

"In middle school, we went against Thomas and he used to punt it super far," quarterback Maximus Grimes said. "I kept telling coach (Pat) Shanley that Thomas could punt the ball but he never listened to me.

"One day we had everyone out punting and Thomas booted it. Coach Shanley was like, 'Yeah, we might have to take a look at him.' "

Shanley recalls that exact moment.

"He booted a freaking 60-yarder," Shanley said. "He told us all year he could punt. There’s 70 kids out here and 68 of them will tell you they can punt. All the sudden he goes and boots a 60-yarder and it’s like holy cow."

What coaches didn't know was that Hogan was the kicker at East Tipp Middle School in seventh and eighth grade. Or that he had played soccer for seven years.

Add it to the weaponry that Hogan offers the Bronchos.

Hogan arrived at Lafayette Jeff in the middle of his freshman year, transferring from Harrison shy and not confident in his abilities.

In 2018, he was the only freshman to qualify for the IHSAA state track and field finals in the 200 meters, a confidence boost but every bit as demoralizing when he was academically ineligible to compete in the state meet.

That was a turning point.

Hogan put more focus on school. Now he has dreams of going to college.

He also absorbed some confidence in his athleticism.

Lafayette Jeff has put that to use the past two seasons as a complementary running back to Marquis Munoz.

Hogan not only is averaging 33.1 yards per punt this season, he's a lightning rod with his speed, averaging 11.7 yards per carry and also being used on kickoff return.

The only downside is he has just 80 touches in 13 games.

"We talked last summer about how we need to get Thomas the ball in space," Grimes said. "He is a game changer. He can go for a 90-yard touchdown in the blink of an eye."

Last spring, Hogan returned to the state track meet. This time he had the grades to compete and he finished 12th.

Last week, on the second play against McCutcheon, Hogan blazed through an open hole and past the Maverick defense for a 73-yard touchdown.

Then he told the rest of the story with his legs well before relaying the message via his mouth four days later at practice.

"They were too slow," Hogan said.

Almost everyone is too slow once Hogan gets in open space.

Including last year, Hogan is averaging 9.3 yards per carry in his Lafayette Jeff career and 24 yards per reception. He's scored a touchdown on 15 percent of his offensive touches (12 of 80).

Last week's gallop was Hogan's second touchdown run on just 13 carries this season.

"We probably haven't got it to him quite enough this season," Shanley said.

Known as the speed back to Munoz's power, Shanley said those monikers can't be misconstrued. Munoz also possesses breakaway speed and Hogan is a much more physical player this season.

"The other day, we are doing blocking drills and Thomas pancaked me," Shanley admitted. "Don't sleep on his power. He can be physical as well."

Sam King covers high school sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

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Lafayette Jeff faces its third Tippecanoe County rival in four weeks when it travels to Harrison (2-1). The Class 6A No. 4 Bronchos rank fifth in the state in offense, averaging 52.3 points per game, while the Raiders are coming off a shutout of Logansport. Jeff has won the last two meetings, including 31-14 last season and 49-39 in 2017 at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Coach Shanley's take: "This might be their best defense yet. They are incredibly talented and coach (defensive coordinator Jon) Wheat does a great job and clearly has his players buying into his scheme. Each year against us, it seems like they do something a little bit different that gives us fits. Offensively, they are talented. All of their skill guys can hit a home run at any point in time and they'll make you bleed to death with No. 47 (fullback Omarion Dixon). He's the most talented back we've seen all year. Maybe the last two years."

Player's take: "Harrison is a lot better this year than they were last year. Their defense is stellar. They got speed on the outside and they've got guys going both ways like (Marcel) Atisso and (Jake) Smith. It will be interesting. They are a smash mouth football team, but I think we are, too." — Maximus Grimes, quarterback